Australian Rodent Fancier's Society of NSW

I am a member of the AusRFS (NSW), and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in pet mice or rats. The club has a strong focus on the ethics and practices of keeping and breeding pet mice and rats. Many of its members have kept these wonderful animals for many years, and are an invaluable font of knowledge for the beginner and advanced hobbyist alike. Whether you've just purchased your first pet, are looking for a breeder in your area, are thinking about opening a rodentry, or wish to attend a show, joining the club is a great place to start. Check out the club's website here.

There's also a great forum where club members and other rodent-fanciers chat about anything and everything (rodent-related and otherwise!). Check it out here.

Shows

A mouse and rat show is held on a Saturday every 2nd month, with a break over the hot Summer months. The shows are free to attend, with a small fee per animal if you wish to participate. It's a very casual affair, with breeders and showers setting up on tables around the hall and chatting the day away, cooing over each others' latest litters, and comparing notes. The classes for the show go by colour, marking and coat type - from Standard Self through to Longcoat Rex Manx Fox/Tan, and everything in between. There are also Pet classes, where the only thing judged is temperament; Conformation classes, where colour and markings are not taken into account; and Introductory classes, where newbies can get some insight into how the animals are judged. The day starts at about 10am and is usually finished by 3pm or so. If you are interested in attending, you should check the show dates for 2009 here.